COMPANY BOSS 'WAVED 4FT SHOTGUN AT TAXI DRIVER AFTER ROW OVER £40 FARE'

A company director brandished a loaded shotgun at a taxi driver and loaded it three times before threatening to kill him, a court heard.

Businessman James Willmott, 37, allegedly cocked the 4ft weapon in the direction of the driver after being dropped back at his country home following a night out in Cardiff city centre.

Cardiff Crown Court heard taxi driver Hanifur Rehman thought he was “finished” and believed he was going to be shot dead by the boss of the accident claims company.

The driver had picked up Willmott, director of All Claims Management, and his five friends from Cardiff city centre to drive them back to the businessman’s large countryside home around 2am on December 23 last year.

But Willmott allegedly told the driver “I’ve got a gun inside the house” after disputing the agreed £40 fare and accused him of trespassing on his property.

Prosecutor Emma Harris said: “There was a disagreement about the cost of the journey.

“Willmott became a bit aggressive and Mr Rehman became worried about his behaviour and moved his taxi a little down the driveway.